You may have heard of the positive aspects of “birdnesting,” which is when two divorced parents allow the children to stay in the family home. These parents then set up a custody schedule where they move in and out of that house, allowing them each to have custody at separate times without the children having to move.
This is widely considered a positive setup for children, who enjoy the stability that it creates. But what are some of the downsides that you want to consider if you’re thinking about this as an option?
You and your ex share a space
First off, you and your ex are still essentially sharing the home. You may not live in it at the same time, but you’re going to use the same living spaces. You need to be able to do this without it causing a lot of conflict between the two of you.
You have to figure out how to pay for everything
Birdnesting can be difficult because you’re still sharing a lot of costs as if you were a married couple. Who pays the mortgage? Who pays to keep food in the house? Who pays the utilities? You probably have to split all of this up in some fashion.
You have to communicate frequently.
When you and your ex are sharing a home and responsibilities regarding your children in this fashion, you have to be able to communicate well and you need to be able to talk frequently. There are a lot of details to iron out and your lives aren’t as separated as a couple who lives exclusively in two different homes. Not all divorced couples find it convenient or even possible to cooperate like this.
Birdnesting is just one option to consider when trying to sort out your child custody situation. Make sure you know about all of the options at your disposal and the legal steps you need to take.
